Superconducting electrical machine with compliant winding support

Abstract

A superconducting electrical machine includes a stator and a rotor configured to rotate in a cavity defined by the stator. The rotor and the stator each include superconducting windings. The rotor and the stator also each include a composite configured to compensate for a volume change of various components of the rotor and stator during a change in temperature from a first temperature to a second temperature.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A superconducting electrical machine, comprising:
 a stator comprising:
 stator superconducting windings configured to superconduct when cooled to a temperature no greater than a stator superconducting temperature; and 
 stator structural material surrounding the stator superconducting windings; 
   a rotor configured to rotate in a cavity defined by the stator, the rotor comprising:
 rotor superconducting windings configured to superconduct when cooled to a temperature no greater than a rotor superconducting temperature; and 
 rotor structural material surrounding the rotor superconducting windings; and 
   at least one composite for supporting at least one of the stator superconducting windings, the stator structural material, the rotor superconducting windings, and the rotor structural material, the at least one composite comprising:
 a layer including an epoxy resin and a filler, the filler comprising spherical beads defining a volume fraction, wherein the volume fraction is configured to compensate for a volume change of the at least one of the stator superconducting windings, the stator structural material, the rotor superconducting windings, and the rotor structural material during a change in temperature from a first temperature to a second temperature. 
   
     
     
         2 . The superconducting electrical machine of  claim 1 , wherein the volume fraction is greater than or equal to 50 percent and less than or equal to 80 percent. 
     
     
         3 . The superconducting electrical machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a coating layer disposed on an outer surface of the spherical beads. 
     
     
         4 . The superconducting electrical machine of  claim 1 , wherein the first temperature is a room temperature. 
     
     
         5 . The superconducting electrical machine of  claim 1 , wherein the second temperature is greater than zero Kelvin and less than or equal to 93 Kelvin. 
     
     
         6 . The superconducting electrical machine of  claim 5 , wherein the second temperature is greater than or equal to four Kelvin and less than or equal to 35 Kelvin. 
     
     
         7 . A superconducting electrical machine, comprising:
 a stator comprising stator superconducting windings configured to superconduct when cooled to a temperature no greater than a stator superconducting temperature;   a rotor configured to rotate in a cavity defined by the stator, the rotor comprising rotor superconducting windings configured to superconduct when cooled to a temperature no greater than a rotor superconducting temperature; and   at least one composite for supporting at least one of the rotor superconducting windings and the stator superconducting windings, the at least one composite comprising:
 a layer including an epoxy resin and a filler, the filler comprising spherical beads defining a volume fraction, wherein the volume fraction is configured to compensate for a volume change of the at least one of the rotor superconducting windings and the stator superconducting windings during a change in temperature from a first temperature to a second temperature. 
   
     
     
         8 . The superconducting electrical machine of  claim 7 , wherein the volume fraction is greater than or equal to 50 percent and less than or equal to 80 percent. 
     
     
         9 . The superconducting electrical machine of  claim 7 , further comprising a coating layer disposed on an outer surface of the spherical beads. 
     
     
         10 . The superconducting electrical machine of  claim 7 , wherein the first temperature is a room temperature. 
     
     
         11 . The superconducting electrical machine of  claim 7 , wherein the second temperature is greater than zero Kelvin and less than or equal to 93 Kelvin. 
     
     
         12 . The superconducting electrical machine of  claim 11 , wherein the second temperature is greater than or equal to four Kelvin and less than or equal to 35 Kelvin. 
     
     
         13 . The superconducting electrical machine of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one of the stator superconducting windings and the rotor superconducting windings comprises magnesium diboride. 
     
     
         14 . A superconducting electrical machine, comprising:
 a stator comprising:
 stator superconducting windings configured to superconduct when cooled to a temperature no greater than a stator superconducting temperature; and 
 stator structural material surrounding the stator superconducting windings; 
   a rotor configured to rotate in a cavity defined by the stator, the rotor comprising rotor superconducting windings configured to superconduct when cooled to a temperature no greater than a rotor superconducting temperature; and
 rotor structural material surrounding the stator superconducting windings; and 
   at least one composite for supporting at least one of the rotor and the stator, the at least one composite comprising:
 a layer including an epoxy resin and a filler suitable for a cryogenic application, the filler comprising spherical beads defining a volume fraction, wherein the volume fraction is configured to compensate for a volume change of at least one of the stator and the rotor during a change in temperature from a first temperature to a second temperature. 
   
     
     
         15 . The superconducting electrical machine of  claim 14 , wherein the volume fraction is greater than or equal to 50 percent and less than or equal to 80 percent. 
     
     
         16 . The superconducting electrical machine of  claim 14 , further comprising a coating layer disposed on an outer surface of the spherical beads. 
     
     
         17 . The superconducting electrical machine of  claim 14 , wherein the first temperature is a room temperature. 
     
     
         18 . The superconducting electrical machine of  claim 14 , wherein the second temperature is greater than zero Kelvin and less than or equal to 93 Kelvin. 
     
     
         19 . The superconducting electrical machine of  claim 18 , wherein the second temperature is greater than or equal to four Kelvin and less than or equal to 35 Kelvin. 
     
     
         20 . The superconducting electrical machine of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one of the rotor structural material and the stator structural material comprises at least one of a metal and a metal alloy, and the volume fraction is further configured to compensate for a volume change of the at least one of the rotor structural material and the stator structural material.